China said on Wednesday that it is working “with all parties” to prevent a military escalation in the Caribbean as the United States intensifies operations near Venezuela, the latest sign of Beijing’s growing diplomatic and symbolic support for President Nicolas Maduro.
Asked to comment on the Venezuelan crisis, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters that Beijing “opposes any action that violates the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter or undermines the sovereignty and security of other countries”, reiterating previous remarks.
He said China was in contact with multiple governments “to safeguard the status of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace and to avoid a further escalation of the situation”, stressing that foreign interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs was unacceptable “under any pretext”.
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His remarks followed days of warnings from Caracas over what it calls a “massive and unprecedented” US military presence in nearby waters.
Washington has deployed the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and around 12,000 sailors and Marines to the region, describing the move as part of an anti-narcotics and maritime security campaign known as Operation Southern Spear.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump told reporters his nation will soon expand its campaign against Venezuela-linked drug operations beyond the sea, pledging to begin strikes on land.